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November 17, 2010
A regular meeting of the Board of Water Commissioners was called to order by Chairperson Lucien Langlois at 12:00 noon.~ Commissioners present were Paul Poulin, Terry Block and Stephen Tardiff.~ Also present for this meeting was ex-officio member Mayor Grenier, Superintendent Roland Viens and Lynne C. Lessard.
There were no Public-Board Comments.
It was moved by Commissioner Poulin, seconded by Commissioner Block, with all in favor, to accept the Minutes of October 13, 2010.
At this time, Chairperson Langlois amended the Agenda to include Items under New Business:
g: Health Insurance for Retirees
h: Mutual Aid
i John Arsenault
j Geo Insight.
Under the Berlin Water Works Monthly Status Report dated November 10, 2010, Superintendent Viens reviewed the following with the Board:
- Andy Sharpe of Provan & Lorber made a presentation at the semi-annual NHDES Association about the water works, specifically the Godfrey Dam. This was done using a computer program “Power Point” and is available to the Board.
- A thank you letter was received from the Ridge Runners for Berlin Water Works participation for the snowmobile club trail project near the Berlin High School.
- Superintendent reviewed the year end project Summary with the Board. “Force Account” Spending exceeded approximately $3m. A total of 9,515 feet of water main was installed and 124 service lines were replaced with the NHSRL-07 Project. 60-70% of those streets were ledge. BWW upgraded 55 running water services. Paving in November is complete.
Equipment is now being serviced and parked as the construction season is over.
- Temporary help is being laid-off Friday, November 19th, 2010.
- We are hauling sand from the Milan Airport to gear up for the next construction season.
- A letter was received dated October 19th, 2010 from Barbara Davis, Monitoring & Enforcement Section – Drinking Water & Groundwater Bureau regarding additional sampling required due to positive bacteria results. The October failed site was at Irving Mainway. Superintendent will have the staff build a data base for tracking these events.
- Primex sent their annual Unemployment Compensation Member Contribution Summary for January 01, 20100 to December 21, 2011. Superintendent Viens informed the Board that unemployment member contribution for 2010 was $7,664 and has increased to $8,216, a difference of $552.00. This is based on taxable wages and we had employed additional temporary help (12).
- Superintendent Viens mentioned that Ben Ouellette a former employee passed away.
It was moved by Commissioner Poulin, seconded by Commissioner Tardiff, with all in favor, to accept and place on file, the Berlin Water Works Monthly Status Report dated November 10, 2010.
It was moved by Commissioner Block, seconded by Commissioner Tardiff, with all in favor to accept and place on file, the Cashier’s Report for the month of October, 2010.
Old Business:
1. NHSRL-Project Year End Closure –Status: We have expended $2,629,360.14 and have $370,639.86 remaining.~ Next spring we will do final paving and close loan next year.
2. USDA - Water Mains-High Street/Status & Northern Forest Heritage Park Status: 8,296 feet of water main line and 4,276 feet of services have been completed and base paved. Northern Forest Heritage Park is on hold for this season.~ We will close on this loan next year ($1,025,000).
3. USDA – Godfrey Dam-Status- AR Couture – Construction Progress – Loan Closure to be scheduled: Superintendent Viens informed the Board that AR Couture has poured four surfaces of the dam. Not much progress to report for the month of October as Couture reduced his staff to man other projects. The loan still has not been closed out. An open invitation was made to the Board and Mayor to visit the project.
4. Support Equipment & Manning – Reduce Temp Staffing November 19, 2010: This was covered in the Monthly Report.
5. New NHSRL Loan Applications – Status: Superintendent Viens informed the Board that he is has not been able to spend much time on this project this month.
- EPA Grant/Brown Farm Well – Provan & Lorber Engineering Contract Award: Superintendent Viens had nothing to report at this time.
- 55 Willow St. Upgrade – HEB Study Status: Superintendent Viens received the first billing from H.E. Bergeron Engineers, Inc. for the “kick-off” meeting for the period 09/22/10 to 10/06/10 in the amount of $825.00. As part of the RUS grant/loan requirements, we need to be in compliance with ADA (American Disability’s Act). HEB is doing a study to look at all three locations and set up a plan which would be a step plan to be in compliance and to have a more efficient office set-up. This project is on hold and possibly will continue in December.
- Salaried Position – Unfilled: Nothing to report at this time.
- AFSCME’s Intent to negotiate agreement – Letter Dated July 13, 2010: Superintendent Viens informed the Board that the City has already had several meetings with AFSCME. Superintendent Viens will periodically check with the City Manager as to the progress.
- Invoice Cloud and Northern Data Systems Proposal – Status: NDS, our computer software company, is in the process of retrieving our meter reading data and are hopeful to get online for our next quarterly billing in February for electronic online bill payments.
- Laidlaw Water Contract Proposal – Review Data:~ Superintendent Viens had presented several scenarios in a letter to Charles Grecco dated November 3rd, 2010. As Superintendent Viens stated in his letter, “the Board of Water Commissioners have not seen this data yet” and that their meeting will be held on November 17, 2010. After a lengthy discussion between Superintendent and the Board and recapping the meeting that he and Commissioner Langlois attended, Superintendent Viens will work out several more scenarios for the Board’s review and input.
- Other Old Business: There was no other old business at this time.
Under New Business:
- Approve State Revolving Loan Payments~for #0231010-01 in the amount of $92,307.00, #0231010-03 in the amount of $48,170.00 and #0231010-04~in the amount of $118,141.00: It was moved by Mayor Grenier, seconded by Commissioner Poulin, with all in favor, to authorize payment to the State for a total amount of $258,618.00.
- Approve Annual Dam Registration Fee: It was moved by Commissioner Poulin, seconded by Commissioner Block, with all in favor, to authorize the annual payment in the amount of $750.00, payable to NHDES – Water Division Dam Bureau.
- Approve Heavy Equipment Payments for Komatsu Loader in the amount of $21,461.52, Komatsu Excavator in the amount of $48,587.14, the Cat Backhoe in the amount of $12,844.12, the Cat 420E in the amount of $20,752.21 and the Komatsu WA 250 Loader in the amount of $24,715.17:~ It was moved by Commissioner Poulin, seconded by Mayor Grenier, with all in favor, to approve payments to be made for the heavy equipment for a total amount $128,360.16.
- Approve Charge out rate for Skid Steer with Grinder Attachment $25.00: It was moved by Commissioner Block, seconded by Mayor Grenier, with all in favor, to approve the $25.00 charge out rate.
Christmas Party Options: It was moved by Commissioner Poulin, seconded by Mayor Grenier, with all in favor, to have the staff set up a luncheon for all employees.
Other and Communications: There were no other & communications at this time.
- Health Insurance - Larry Hodgman & Catherine Pederson:~ After some discussion, it was moved by Commissioner Block, seconded by Mayor Grenier, with all in favor, to increase BWW’s payment portion from $188.00 up to $282.25 for the health insurance increase cost for the two retirees. The Board will review this topic annually.
- Mutual Aid: It was moved by Commissioner Block, seconded by Commissioner Poulin, with all in favor, to authorize payment in the amount of $25.00 payable to the NH Public Works Mutual Aid Program annual participation fee.
John Arsenault: Superintendent Viens spoke to the Board as to the services John provides, such as instrumentation maintenance and backflow testing. It was moved by Commissioner Block, seconded by Commissioner Poulin, with all in favor, to extend his contract by an additional 80 hours.
Geo-Insight: Superintendent Viens handed the Board a letter from GeoInsight dated November 5, 2010 to Pierce Rigrod – NHDES regarding the Brown Farm Well Wellhead Protection Area. Also handed out was an e-mail from City Planner, Pamela Laflamme dated November 8, 2010 to find out if BWW could compensate Geo-Insight for possibly 6-10 hours of additional work as the Planning Department does not have any extra funds to compensate Geo-Insight. Superintendent will speak with Dave Maclean of GeoInsight to see what the additional cost is and will place on next months Board Agenda.
The Board agreed to hold their next regularly scheduled meeting at 12:00 noon, Thursday December 16, 2010 at our 55 Willow Street conference room.
There were Public-Board comments.
The Board did not enter into a non-public session.
There being no further business to come before this meeting at this time, it was moved by Commissioner Block, seconded by Commissioner Tardiff, with all in favor to adjourn this meeting.
The meeting did so adjourn at 1:20pm.
A True Record, Attest:
Paul Poulin, Clerk of the Board
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